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Springfield Cardinals

Cardinals Fall to Hooks 10-9 in 11 Innings

August 20, 2011 - Texas League (TL1)
Springfield Cardinals News Release


Corpus Christi, TX - Still stinging from the three game sweep at the hands of the San Antonio Missions, the Cardinals looked to take some offensive frustrations out on the Corpus Christi Hooks.

During the current five game losing streak, Springfield has scored just eight runs. Something very unusual for the Texas League's top hitting team.

The Cardinals sent Michael Blazek to the mound to try and keep the Hooks' bats quiet against the reigning Texas League Pitcher of the Week, Ross Seaton.

Blazek did not have the start he wanted as the first batter he faced in the 1st inning, Brandon Barnes, hit a solo homer to left to give the Hooks a 1-0 lead. After a single and a stolen base from Jonathan Villar, Kody Hinze singled to right to score Villar to make it 2-0. The Hook got another single and a walk to load the bases before Blazek struck out David Flores and got Brandon Wikoff to ground out to end the inning.

Springfield would take their first lead in a game since last Sunday in the 2nd inning as Eric Duncan blasted a solo homer, his 18th, and Chris Swauger launched a two-run homer two batters later to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead.

Both pitchers settled in after the second inning. Blazek would retire nine straight batters before issuing a two one out walk in the 4th. He then got a ground out and a strikeout to get out of the frame. In the 5th, Blazek walked Barnes to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt, Blazek struck out Jon Gaston and got Hinze to fly out keeping Springfield in front 3-2.

The Cardinals would take the momentum of keeping the Hooks offense at bay and add two more to their tally. Matt Adams reached on a dropped pop up to start the inning before Eric Duncan homered for the second time in the game, a two-run shot, to put Springfield ahead 5-2.

Blazek would retire the first two batters in the 6th before walking the next two batters and being taken from the game. Reliever Scott Schneider came in and walked the first batter he faced on four straight pitches. Brandon Barnes followed and blasted a grand slam homerun to put the Hooks in front for the first time since the 1st inning, 6-5.

Springfield would battle back in the 7th against the Hooks bullpen plating three runs. With one out, Jim Rapoport singled and stole second before Daryl Jones was hit by a pitch and Donovan Solano singled to center. Matt Adams came up and lined a single to center off of Henry Villar to score two runs to put the Cardinals back in front 7-6. After a ground out moved runners to second and third, Jermaine Curtis singled to center scoring Solano, but Adams was thrown out at the plate to end the inning with Springfield in the lead, 8-6.

Out of the Cardinals bullpen, Nick Greenwood threw a scoreless 7th and got the first out in the 8th inning. JC Thompson then ripped a pinch-hit double and Brandon Barnes stayed hot with an RBI double to right center to make it an 8-7 game. Jordan Swagerty then came in and struck out the first batter he faced. After a walk, Kody Hinze lined a single to left field on an 0-2 pitch to score Barnes and tie the game 8-8.

In the 9th, Daryl Jones lined a single to left with one out and scored the go-ahead run on an RBI double from Donovan Solano to grab a 9-8 lead. Springfield would load the bases with two outs thanks to a couple of walks, but Charlie Cutler struck out to end the inning.

Swagerty stayed in to pitch the bottom of the 9th and got the first two batters without a problem. However, he fell behind David Flores, marred in a 1-for-28 slump, and grooved a 2-0 fastball that he hit out to left to tie the game 9-9.

To extra innings the Cardinals went for the 4th time in five games against the Hooks. Springfield reliever Jorge Rondon threw a scoreless inning in the 10th before running into trouble in the 11th. He allowed a lead off single to reliever Jason Stoffel and a one out single to Adam Bailey to put runners on the corners. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Rondon got an out at the plate for the second out of the inning. Brandon Wikoff then came to the plate and laced a single to left field to score Bailey and give the Hooks a 10-9 win.

The Cardinals losing streak has hit a season high six games.

Springfield will continue their three game series with the Corpus Christi Hooks Sunday at 6:05 at Whataburger Field. The Cardinals will send right hander Arquimedes Nieto to the mound against righty Paul Clemens of the Hooks.

The Cardinals will return to Hammons Field for a crucial four-game series with the NW Arkansas Naturals Tuesday August 23rd at 7:07pm. Springfield will be giving away 4,000 sets of team baseball card sets to fans thanks to our friends at Sysco Foods. And, every Tuesday at Hammons Field, the Cardinals will have KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets where if you Buy 1 Ticket you Get 1 Free from KRAFT Singles with purchase. Bring your package wrapper to a Springfield Cardinals Game on Tuesdays for a steal of a deal! Visit kraftsingles.com for more info! Some exclusions apply. Great tickets are still available by visiting the Hammons Field Ticket Office, online at springfieldcardinals.com or by calling (417) 863-2143.

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